Finger Foods For Baby

I don’t know about you but even as an adult there is something so fun and satisfying about finger foods! Perhaps it’s because they make me feel like a child again as children love eating finger foods. They are a great way to introduce solids to your baby and are super delicious and easy to make too! Here are some safe, highly-nutritious finger foods for baby.

Finger Foods For Baby: Common Questions

When will I know my baby is ready for finger foods?

One of the key signs that denote when a baby is ready for finger foods is when they start to reach out for the food as you’re feeding them or when they start sitting independently.

What finger food should I start with?

When choosing the best finger foods for baby, it is universally agreed that it’s best to begin with small pieces of soft food that dissolve easily. If in doubt, always consult a paediatrician.

What safety precautions should I take?

Always make sure your baby is sitting upright and not slumping (or running around with their food as babies like to do) as this increases the risk of choking. If there are other children present, always make sure that they don’t start to feed your baby, you and your baby should be the only ones feeding them. Lastly, never leave your baby alone as while you can take all the precautions in the world against choking, it can still happen.

How will I know if my baby is gagging or choking?

This is one of the main concerns parents have when it comes to their baby eating and while they are related, they are by no means the same thing. When a baby is gagging, food that isn’t ready to be swallowed comes forward in retching movement. This may be unnerving to watch but babies don’t seem to be too bothered by it. However, when a baby is choking, this is because the airway is partially or even fully blocked! When something partially blocks a baby’s airway they will begin to cough to clear it, making a noise. But if a baby’s airway is fully blocked and they are legitimately choking they will be completely silent as no air can get past the blockage.

What do I do if I see my baby choking?

If your baby is not coughing forcefully or does not have a strong cry, follow these steps:

1. Lay them face down, along your forearm, using your thigh or lap for support. Hold their chest in your hand and the jaw with your fingers. Point the infant's head downward and lower than the body.

2. Give up to 5 quick, strong blows between the baby’s shoulder blades, using the palm of your free hand.

If the food does not come out of the airway after 5 blows:

1. Turn them face up and use your thigh or lap for support. Make sure to support their head.

2. Place 2 fingers on the middle of the breastbone just below the nipples.

3. Give up to 5 quick thrusts down, compressing the chest one third to one-half the depth of the chest.

4. Continue 5 back blows followed by 5 chest thrusts until the food is dislodged or they loses alertness (becomes unconscious).

If they become unresponsive and lose alertness:

• Shout for help.

• Give infant CPR. Call 999 after 1 minute of CPR.

• If you can see the object blocking the airway, try to remove it with your finger. Try to remove an object only if you can see it.

Whatever you do, DO NOT do the following:

• Perform choking first aid if they are coughing forcefully, have a strong cry, or are breathing enough. But do be ready to act if the symptoms get worse.

• Try to grasp and pull out the object if the baby is conscious

• Do back blows and chest thrusts if they stop breathing for other reasons, such as asthma, infection, swelling, or a blow to the head. Do give the infant CPR in these cases.

12 Finger Foods For Baby

• Teething biscuits and lightly toasted bread

  These are great options as they soften quickly in your baby’s mouth. Lightly toast the bread and cut into small pieces to avoid any choking hazards.

• Scrambled egg

  While doctors used to advise against giving eggs to babies, early exposure is now highly recommended in order to expose them to allergenic foods. Avoid adding too much salt and keep the texture nice and runny.

• Soft fruit

  When fruit is naturally ripe, this means it will be nice and soft, in other words, it makes perfect finger foods for baby! Examples of great options include ripe banana, peach, watermelon, raspberries, blueberries, and cantaloupe cut into bitesize chunks.

• Puffs and dry cereal

  This is one of the most popular options when it comes to finger foods for baby, and for good reason. They allow your baby to practice picking up or “pincer-grabbing”, a useful motor skill. They also combine well with saliva and have a low-risk of being choked upon.

• Pasta

  When you start introducing finger foods for baby, the general rule of thumb is to keep them as soft as possible. For pasta, this means overcooking it slightly. Use fun pasta shapes to encourage them to eat it! Start by serving plain and slowly introduce sauces.

• Cooked vegetables

  Steam or roast vegetables in order to maximize nutrient intake, and of course chop into small pieces. Sweet potato, cauliflower, and broccoli are all great options for finger foods for baby to start off with.

• Cheese

  Before introducing cheese, make sure your baby has shown no sign of dairy intolerance. Once you are sure, you can start to introduce small chunks of soft cheese to them. Monterrey Jack or cheddar are great options!

• Beans

  Beans are high in protein and are a super option for finger foods for baby! When you are first introducing your baby to beans, make sure to mash them between your fingers first to reduce any risk of choking. I recommend canned, low-sodium beans for convenience reasons.

• Tofu

  Tofu, cooked or uncooked, is a super plant-based source of protein and perfect finger foods for baby. I’d recommend going for firm tofu, as this is still quite soft, as opposed to soft or silken tofu, which could fall apart in the baby’s hand and annoy them.

• Avocado

  Adults love avocados so it makes sense that babies do too! They are super soft and a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids which have been proven to boost brain development. It can be quite messy so have a napkin at the ready!

• Meat

  After they are used to soft foods, try diced chicken breast and ground beef. They are pediatrician-approved next-stage finger foods for baby. Just be extra sure to check that they are thoroughly cooked and cut into very small bitesize pieces to avoid any choking hazard.

• Fish

  Fish is another allergenic food that pediatricians now say can be introduced before the baby reaches a year old. As with meat, it is vital to make sure that it’s thoroughly cooked. Go for a low-mercury fish like flounder, cod, or salmon but most important, make sure to remove any tiny bones